Passage2013, 1(1), 99-106 Textual Meaning in Song Lyrics Edwan Ali Firdaus Indonesia University of Education (PendidikanBahasaInggris) [email protected] 082129865165 Edwan graduated in January 2013 from English Education Study Program, Indonesia University of Education Bandung ABSTRACT: The study, entitled “Textual Meaning in Song Lyrics” is aimed to find out the most frequent Topical Theme in the song lyrics. The study used Systemic Functional Grammar to answer the research questions. The data were taken from dreamtheater.net involving three Dream Theater lyrics. Data were analyzed by Halliday Theme and Rheme analytical framework. The research shows that Topical Theme is the most frequent Theme which appears 70 times (68.63%) followed by Textual Theme which appears 28 times (27.45%) and Interpersonal Theme which appears 4 times (3.92%). The messages in the lyrics are mostly about love which is divided into three different points of view, i.e. the issue of love to an opposite sex, the issue of love to a son, the issue of love to life. Key-words: Theme, Topical, song lyrics, message. 99 Edwan Ali Firdaus Textual Meaning in Song Lyrics INTRODUCTION seeks to examine Topical Themes used in the song lyrics. This study Generally, music consists of can be used as a tool to analyze two elements, sounds as the primary songs that will be used as a media in and lyrics as the secondary (Dallin teaching English. Qualitative 1994). Lyrics have significant approach is used in this study. contributions to the music itself Fraenkel and Wallen (1990: 10) state although it contributes as the second that “qualitative approach is element of the music. Lyrics give the employed when a researcher wants to audience deep understanding about acquire a holistic depiction of what the message contained in the song; in actually happens in particularly other words, lyrics clarify the circumstances or situation. message contained in the song. Further this study also According to Dallin (1994), employed descriptive method. “Lyrics are written as a form of interaction between the According to Arikunto (1996:234), it writer and the listeners. Most has no intention to prove any of the times, they carry a message (whatever that might hypothesis,but to examine and be) with the purpose of describe the representation of social motivating the listeners, at least, to think about it. Such a events that are found in the data purpose and form of sources. Descriptive quantification is interaction are embedded in the cultural context of these also employed in this study. As people, according to their Alwasilah (2008) stated, descriptive musical preferences, time, etc.” quantification is used to support the quality of descriptions and to make Every song has its message. The better understanding of the study. appeal and effectiveness of the song The data for this study are in the to the listener is dependent on the form of song lyrics of Dream lyrics. The message contained in a Theater’s Scene From A Memory song lyric can be delivered album (1999). There are three lyrics depending on how the writer put the for this study downloaded from words in the lyrics (Bertoli-Dutra dreamtheater.net on 16thofJune and Bissaco, 2006: 1053).This study 100 Passage2013, 1(1), 99-106 2012. The data are analyzed in terms how language is structured for use as of their Theme and Rheme using a semiotic system”.Theme is defined Halliday Theme and Rheme by Halliday and Matthiessen analytical framework (2004) which (2004:6) as “the element which was then developed among others by serves as the starting-point for the Eggins (2004). message of point of departure: it is For Halliday and Matthiessen what the clause is going to be about”. (2004:37), “systemic functional For Halliday (1994:37), the grammar is concerned primarily with Theme is a “clause-initial element, the choices that the grammar makes for it appears first creating relevance available to speakers and writers. to the context, which then combines These choices relate speakers’ and with the remainder (Rheme) of the writer’s intentions to the concrete clause so that the two parts together forms of a language. Traditionally constitute a message”. According to the ‘choices’ are viewed in terms of Eggins (2004:4), the speakers’ either the content or the structure of lexical-grammatical choices don’t the language used”. According to occur randomly but they depend on Eggins, (2004:20) “systemic the context they occur. This is a functional grammar is a functional- probabilistic view of language which semantic approach to language we associated to the concept of which explores both how people use interdependency between context language in different context and and language. 101 Edwan Ali Firdaus Textual Meaning in Song Lyrics Table 1 Distribution of Theme in the song lyrics Songs No. Themes Total % 1 2 3 1. Topical Theme 5 30 39 74 69.81% 2. Textual Theme - 11 17 28 26.42% 3. Interpersonal Theme - - 4 4 3.77% Total 5 41 59 106 100% It is found that there are three phenomenon if the Topical Theme as types of Themes in the lyrics. They the most frequent one because as are Topical Theme, Textual Theme, Gerot and Wignell (1994) said that and Interpersonal Theme. The table the Topical Theme is usually but not shows that the most frequent Theme always appear in the clause. Mostly, is Topical Theme, which appears 74 song lyrics always contain Topical times (69.81%), followed by Textual Theme. Textual Theme appears as Theme which appears 28 times the second order with 28 emergences (26.42%) and Interpersonal Theme (26.42%). Potentially the existence which appears 4 times (3.77%). The of Textual Themes in the lyrics has messages in the lyrics are mostly intention to make the listeners enjoy about love which is divided into the songs without having interpret three different points of view, i.e. the the meaning or relationship between issue of love to an opposite sex clauses their self. The last one is (Through My Words Lyric), the Interpersonal Theme. Interpersonal issue of love to a son (Through Her Themes only appear 4 times in all Eyes Lyric), the issue of love to life song lyrics and only appear in the (The Spirit Carries On Lyric). third lyrics ‘The Spirit Carries On’. Potentially, the writers tend to It is found that Topical slightly impersonalize a personal Theme is mostly appears in all song matter in order to make the lyric lyrics. It can be said as the common more ‘grand’ although the lyrics told 102 Passage2013, 1(1), 99-106 about loves, desperations, sadness appear 4 times in all song lyrics and and death. only appear in the third lyrics ‘The Spirit Carries On’. Potentially, the There are several conclusions writers tend to slightly impersonalize that have been reached in this a personal matter in order to make research. First, Topical Theme is the the lyric more ‘grand’.In the end, most frequent Theme in the three after drawing some conclusions, song lyricswhich appears 74 times there are several suggestions that (69.81%) and mostly in the form of may be useful for teachers and pronoun, followed by Textual Theme further studies. For teachers, this which appears 28 times (26.42%) study can be used as a tool to analyze and mostly in the form of songs that will be used as a media in conjunction and Interpersonal Theme teaching English. It is possible that if which appears 4 times (3.77%). It is this study had made the Thematic found that Topical Theme is mostly Analysis not exclusively on the appears in all song lyrics. It can be clause level, but on the text level, said as the common phenomenon if this study would have gotten the Topical Theme as the most different results. This study could frequent one because as Gerot and also have gotten different results if Wignell (1994) said that the Topical this study had considered the Theme usually but not always Theme+Rheme equation or even if appears in the clause. Textual Theme this study had analyzed the other two appears as the second order with 28 meta-functions, but this was not the occurrences (26.42%). Potentially intention of this study. Further the existence of Textual Themes in studies are recommended to analyze the lyrics has intention to make the song lyrics consisting different listeners enjoy the songs without issues. It is beneficial to find the havinginterpret the meaning or differences of music groups, songs relationship between clauses their and meaning in each issue, for self. The last one is Interpersonal instance the humanity issue and Theme. Interpersonal Themes only socio-political issue. Hopefully, the 103 Edwan Ali Firdaus Textual Meaning in Song Lyrics present study will give a contribution for the listeners of the music to read and listen carefully and critically. 104 Passage2013, 1(1), 99-106 REFERENCES and Text: Aspects of Language in ASocial-Semiotic Perspective (2nd Alwasilah, A. Chaedar. 2008. edition).Deakin University PokoknyaKualitatif: Dasar- dasarMerancangdanMelakuka Press/Oxford University Press. nPenelitianKualitatif. Jakarta: Halliday, M.A.K. (1994). An Pustaka Jaya. Introduction to Functional nd Grammar (2 edition). Edward Arikunto,S. (1996). Arnold. ProsedurPenelitian: SuatuPendekatanPraktek. Hallidy, M.A.K and Jakarta: PT. RinekaCiipta. Matthiessen,C.M.I.M. (2004). Bertoli-Dutra,P and Bissaco, C.M. An Introduction to Functional (2006). In the Name of Love – Grammar (3rd edition). Edward Theme in U2 Songs.33rd Arnold. International Systemic Functional Congress. Dallin, R. (1994). 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